Complete Canine Care’s Guide to Guy Fawkes
By Bree Collins- Assistant Manager
Guy Fawkes is one of the most stressful times of the year for our pets. The fireworks that are enjoyed by humans can be terrifying for our pets and this can cause lots of issues for our pets, and even put them in danger. Here are our top tips for surviving Guy Fawkes with your pet:
Keep your pets inside while the fireworks are on outside
Bring your pets inside before the fireworks start and create a calm place for them to spend the evening while we enjoy the fireworks outside. It is best to set up a quiet area with their familiar belongings such as their bed or crate, their toys and some water. It is an animals immediate instinct to hide during scary situations so giving them a small area to hang out in can help them calm down.
Play calming music or turn the tv on to distract from loud bangs outside.
Making your home as calm as possible will help your pet get through a stressful time. Playing calming music or leaving the TV on can be a fantastic distraction from the fireworks outside. Youtube and Spotify have some great free videos containing calming music for dogs, or alternatively, you could purchase the Through A Dog’s Ear CD which is a collection of classical music pieces that have been clinically proven to assist with anxiety issues in dogs. It is a we use here at the CCC day care centre to help our day care dogs calm down during nap times and we love it!
Shut curtains, shades and blinds.
We love the pretty flashes of lights from fireworks, but these lights can leave our dogs worried and anxious. We can minimise this part of the stressful situation by shutting curtains, shades and blinds so our pets can not see the lights. Shutting these can also help to muffle the sounds of the fireworks outside.
Lock all doors and windows
As well as muffling the sound of the fireworks, locking our doors and windows can stop our pets from escaping the house. Every year, lots of pets go missing as they are trying to escape the fireworks so it is important that we keep them safe and in one place while the fireworks are going. When our pets are scared, they can do things that we wouldn’t normally see them do, such as jump a 6 foot fence, or break out of a crate. The best way to stop them from escaping your property is making sure they stay inside. Remember to shut any dog or cat doors too!
Make sure your dogs details are up to date
Both on the microchip database, their registration and if they wear a tag, make sure this is up to date too. In the event of your pooch escaping the house, it is important that whoever picks them up can trace them back to you. To change the address that your dog lives at, use this link here.
https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/dogs-animals/change-your-dogs-details/Pages/change-dog-address.aspx
If you need to change your pet’s microchip details in the NZ Companion Animal Register:
https://animalregister.co.nz/userupdate.aspx
If you have recently changed your phone number, make sure you change your contact details on your pets registration and microchip. Remember to get them a new ID tag to increase the chances of your dog being returned to you.
Use anti-stress aids to your advantage
There are lots of great anti-stress aids out there! We recommend:
- Adaptil: this is a wonderful product that uses a synthetic pheromone that mimics the pheromone mother dogs emit after giving birth to help their puppies feel calm and secure. Dogs of all ages recognize this pheromone throughout life. It comes in a couple of different forms but the most popular products are the adaptil collars and the spray. The spray can be sprayed on a bandana worn on your pooches neck, or can be sprayed on their favourite blanket or pillow.
- Thundershirts: these are vests that are wrapped around your pooch to create a constant, even pressure that gives the same effect as swaddling a baby. This secure feeling can help pooches feel safer in stressful situations.
Tire your pooch out!
A tired dog will have more of a chance of sleeping through the fireworks than a dog that has a lot of energy! Take them for a massive walk or a swim, and remember to use some fun mind games like puzzles and ‘find the treat’ to make sure your dog is mentally as well as physically worked out for the day.
